5 Too Real Feels if You Work Hospo During Christmas

It’s the Christmas season and you’d rather be at home stuffing yourself with a roast. Instead, you’re watching other people stuff themselves with a roast.

The festive spirit dampens when you’re forced to wear reindeer ears and smile at people who are here to eat all the food and leave a mess for you to clean up. Especially when you’d rather be at home with your family or friends. The fact of the matter is, not a lot of hospitality places are open Christmas Day, but those that are open often host a Christmas buffet for the locals. That’s where things can get a little hard for us.

1. The Christmas Playlist Never Changes

I swear if I have to hear another Christmas song, it will be the death of me. Whether it’s a work Christmas party or you’re in the bistro serving customers, you’ll hear the frustrating voice of Michael Buble everywhere. Also Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is basically the anthem for the festive season – you’re guaranteed to hear it at least 15 times a day.

2. Customers Are Ruder Than Ever

Whether they’re Scrooges or Grinches, the Christmas period seems to bring about the worst in people. “Where is my potato salad?” – “Why is my steak not medium rare?” – “Why is this so expensive?” Have they ever heard of the Christmas spirit? No, no they haven’t. But the customer is always right, so you’ll have to take that plate back to the chef and deal with their death glare for the rest of your shift.

3. What is Sleep?

Hospo guarantees flexible hours. You can schedule appointments, get your nails done, and drink a vodka sunrise by the pool until you have to go to work. But the question we often ask ourselves is: how far are we willing to bend to make the dollarydoos? We have lives too, and Christmas shopping is another job in itself.

Waking up at 3pm to start work at 6pm is pretty good, but when your roster is sprinkled with overnighters and 9am starts, it hurts to roll out of bed. Do you have time to call in sick? Maybe. You’ll finish at 6am, 2am or 8pm. It’s the luck of the draw, and if you’re running on three hours sleep, I’m praying for you.

4. There’s Mess Everywhere and You Hate Everything

It doesn’t matter what you do and how hard you try, people will still be dicks and they’ll leave such a mess behind, you’d think they didn’t know how to clean up after themselves. All the while, you have to pretend you’re loving life and the festive season with your Santa hat falling off your head and a painted smile on your face. You have to refrain from yelling at customers talking over you as you try to explain for the tenth time that you are out of prawns. Just hold on, friend.

5. Working With Friends Makes It Bearable

Nothing says friendship more than rushing together to replenish the dessert bar or clean up after a particularly messy family. It’s awesome how slaving away over people brings you and your coworkers closer together through a mutual hatred for people.